Progressing

Excellent

No.

Action

Performance measure

Score

1

RMA information and services are located and accessed from the council home page

Minimum - Two clicks from the council home page to either RMA plan or resource consent related information (eg, <services><planning>), but the information is held in separate areas.
Progressing - One click from the council home page to a specific resource management area, but all relevant information may not be held in this area.
Excellent - A dedicated page (portal) for all council RMA related information and services (consents and plans) that is directly accessible (one click) from the council home page.

2

Online RMA guidance is available

Minimum - Advice on RMA processes (eg, applying for a resource consent) is available online with external links to national advice.
Progressing - General district-wide guidance/advice (eg, through FAQs) and general planning advice is available online.
Excellent - Site-specific guidance/advice is available online. Users can identify a property and an activity and receive guidance on specific RMA consent requirements.

3

Text of RMA policies and plans can be accessed online

Minimum - Text of RMA policies and plans is available online in PDF format with all of the following features:

• the status of the policy or plan (proposed, operative or under appeal) is clearly identified either on the council website, the cover of the document, on each page or somewhere apparent
• the legal effect of proposed rules is clearly identified
• the text is broken up into labelled sections with file sizes less than 1MB
• the text makes use of the Adobe index
• files open up at 50 percent viewing size or greater
• file information can be copied and pasted (ie, they have been written using Adobe Acrobat reader, not scanned in).

Progressing - Text of RMA policies and plans is online in HTML format with all of the following features:

• the status of the policy or plan (proposed, operative or under appeal) is clearly identified either on the council website, the cover of the document, on each page, or somewhere apparent
• the legal effect of proposed rules is clearly identified
• internal links are embedded within the text to defined terms and to cross referenced objectives, polices, rules and other methods
• every page has a visible index that provides a link back to the central index page and a link to view the associated planning maps.

Excellent - As with progressing but including:

• External links to documents incorporated by reference (eg, design guidance), or
• ability to search the plan text for chosen terms, or
• the ability to identify the physical address and any proposed activity for a particular site and to obtain a breakdown of the relevant planning provisions relating to a proposal.

4

Maps in RMA planning documents can be accessed online

Minimum - RMA planning maps are available online in PDF format with all of the following features:

• each PDF planning map is clearly labelled with file sizes less than 1MB
• PDF files open up at 50% viewing size or greater
• each individual PDF map has a legend or a legend is clearly identified as a separate document
• the maps are clearly indexed or displayed using a district / region wide 'master map '.

Progressing - RMA planning maps are available online in HTML format with all of the following features:

• a legend is visible from each individual map
• an individual map can be identified by clicking on an 'index ' or 'master ' map
• street names are legible or can be zoomed in on
• a scale is visible (and automatically adjusts when zooming in or out)
• a map can be printed without loss of formatting (a printer friendly option).

Excellent - As with progressing but including either:

• icons and symbols on the maps (eg, a heritage icon, a designation number) hyperlink to relevant plan schedules or tables, or
• the ability to search for a site on the planning maps by street address or legal description.

5

Iwi and hapu RMA documents and contact details are available online

Minimum - Link to the Te Kahui Mangai website located within a resource management related web page.
Progressing - Links to the Te Kahui Mangai website located within a resource management related web page and any associated information/guidance on when consultation with local iwi may be required (including links to any signed memorandums of agreement or understanding).
Excellent - Links to the Te Kahui Mangai website, local iwi management plans and information on when consultation with local iwi may be required (including links to any signed memorandums of agreement or understanding) is located within a resource management related web page.

6

RMA-related committee papers, minutes of proceeding, and schedules of council meetings can be viewed online

Minimum - Planning policy and resource consent hearings committee meeting schedules, agendas and associated minutes are available online in static form and grouped in chronological order by Committee for the preceding year.
Excellent - Planning policy and resource consent hearings committee meeting schedules, agendas and minutes are available online in a searchable format that is linked to a database containing records for the preceding five years.

7

RMA fee schedule is available online

Minimum - Fee schedule is available online.
Excellent - Fee schedule is available online along with a clear explanation as to whether the charges are a fixed fee or a deposit only. May also include features such as fee calculator.

8

RMA forms can be downloaded

Minimum - All of the following commonly used RMA forms can be downloaded in PDF format and completed manually:

• Resource consent application (Form 9)
• Submission form (Form 13)
• Affected party approval form.

Progressing - All of the above forms can be completed online and printed out ready for lodgement.
Excellent - All council produced RMA forms can be filled out online and submitted electronically, and guidance is provided to help users complete each section, (see Criterion 14 - all statutory applications can be lodged online).

9

Publicly notified resource consent applications, notices of requirement and proposed plan changes/variations can be viewed online

Minimum - Static list of all notified applications (ie, resource consent applications, notices of requirement and proposed variations and plan changes), including the public notice (Forms 4 and 12).

Progressing - Static list of all notified applications (ie, resource consent applications, notices of requirement and proposed variations and plan changes), including the public notice (Forms 4 and 12) and a link which enables the application to be viewed online or a copy of the application be requested.

Excellent - Searchable list of all notified applications (ie, resource consent applications, notices of requirement and proposed variations and plan changes), including the public notice (Forms 4 and 12), a link which enables the application to either be viewed online or a copy to be requested, and a clear indication of what stage in the consent process the application is currently at (eg, appeal period, hearing adjourned).

10

Submissions can be prepared and lodged online

Minimum - Submissions on publicly notified RMA processes can be prepared and lodged using an online form.
Excellent - Submissions on publicly notified RMA processes can be prepared and lodged online, automatically uploaded into the back office planning system and an automated confirmation receipt forwarded to the submitter.

11

Current appeals to the Environment Court can be viewed online

Minimum - Ability for users to view a static list of current appeals to council decisions that have been lodged with the Environment Court.
Excellent - Ability for users to view a static list of current appeals to council decisions that have been lodged with the Environment Court, including details of appellants, section 274 parties and the status of the appeal (eg, in mediation).

12

The status and decision notice of all determined resource consents can be located and viewed online

Minimum - Access to a chronological list of consents that have been determined in the preceding calendar year, along with the consent number, address, description of the activity and the decision (eg, granted/declined).
Excellent - Access to a searchable database that includes the status of all consents determined since the database was available, basic information on consents that have been granted and are still active and access to individual decision notices.

13

Statutory applications can be lodged online

Minimum - Applicants can submit RMA applications and associated documents (eg, drawings, plans) and pay their application fee online.
Excellent - Users can submit RMA and regulatory service applications and pay associated fees online. These are automatically uploaded into the back office systems and the user sent an automated confirmation of receipt.

14

Applicants can monitor the progress of their statutory applications online

Minimum - The status of applications currently being processed is available online as a static list that is updated weekly. Applicants are advised in their acknowledgement letter how this list can be accessed.
Excellent - Applicants and the general public are able to monitor, through the council website, progress on consent processing, with information updated as each stage is completed.

15

Council RMA monitoring records can be viewed online

Minimum - Results of the review of the efficiency and effectiveness of policies, rules or other methods in a policy statement or plan is available online in a PDF format.
Excellent - Like minimum but with the further ability to access online monitoring records relating to resource consent applications that are still active, any functions, duties or powers that have been delegated and the exercise of any recognised customary activity and associated controls.

16

State of the Environment monitoring records can be viewed online

Minimum - State of the environment monitoring reports can be viewed online in a PDF format.
Excellent - State of the environment monitoring reports are available online along with relevant time series data and any recent updates of environmental performance (eg, water quality).

17

Authoritative-ness of online RMA information

Minimum - An annual review of online RMA content for authoritativeness is carried out, including links to external websites. A complete review is undertaken immediately following any amendments to the RMA.
Excellent - In house processes developed to review online RMA content for authoritativeness on a monthly basis. A web page user is able to provide feedback on web content and/or usability.